POEA: FDH training fee should only be P7,000

The dialogue held at the Hong Kong University on September 25. It was organized by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong.

Filipino domestic helpers should pay training centers only around P7,000 for their skills training before they are deployed abroad, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said.

Speaking at the Hong Kong University (HKU) on Sept. 25, then POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said that the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) informed him that basic training for domestic helpers should cost only around P7,000 and P15,000 for those that include board and lodging.

Cacdac urged those who paid more than these amounts to file a formal complaint so that they can recover their money.

“Ang sabi ng TESDA, humigit kumulang P7,000 lang dapat ang training costs. Kung merong dormitoryo, humigit kumulang P15,000 kung may board at lodging,” Cacdac said during the HKU dialogue.

“Kung walang board and lodging, P7,000. Tapos yung pagtesting o yung assessment, P400 lang daw dapat yun,” he added.

The dialogue at the HKU was organized by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-Migrante-HK). It was also attended by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Rebecca Calzado.

Cacdac said the POEA recently closed down four employment agencies after they sent their workers to training centers that collected excessive training fees.

“Doon sa larangan ng training fees na nabanggit kanina, may apat na agencies na na nakansela ang lisensya dahil yung ginawa nila…yung placement fees ikinarga nila sa training fees,” Cacdac said.

“Zero placement fee dapat. Ang maibabalita ko sa inyo, sa loob ilang huling taon, at least 240 recruitment agency licenses na ang nacancel ng POEA at karamihan ay dahil sa excessive placement fees,” he added.

Cacdac said that domestic workers victimized by unscrupulous training centers can file formal complaints within three years after they paid excessive fees.

“Kayat ang gagawin natin, kung meron kayong sumbong at reklamo—tulad nung isang araw sa shelter na sinasabi P30,000 ang siningil sa training—idulog niyo po sa amin at kakasuhan natin,” Cacdac said.

“Marami pong pending cases tayo ngayon at iniimbestigahan namin ang mga recruitment agencies,” he added.

FDHs who paid excessive training fees can file their complaints at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Admiralty.

“Pati ang TESDA katuwang natin pati dun sa training institute para yung training (centers) panagutan din,” he said.

Labor Attaché Jalilo Dela Torre urged FDHs to file complaints against Hong Kong agencies that collect fees that amount to more than the “10 percent of their salary” allowed by law.

“Isumbong nyo sa amin dahil 10 percent lang ang allowed. Sabihin niyo sa amin at papalakulin din natin yan,” Dela Torre said.